In a digital age where artificial intelligence is accelerating the creation—and manipulation—of documents, trust has become both more critical and more complex. As legal professionals and institutions grapple with the growing challenge of verifying documents’ authenticity, blockchain technology offers a compelling solution: an incorruptible, decentralized system for registering and validating digital records. That’s the foundation of a new collaboration between the American Arbitration Association® (AAA) and Integra Ledger, which introduces a document registration and authentication service built on blockchain. This initiative is designed not only to safeguard the integrity of contracts and evidence but also to foster greater trust and efficiency in global dispute resolution. In this Q&A, Integra Ledger CEO David Fisher, AAA Chief Innovation and Information Officer Diana Didia and AAA President and CEO Bridget McCormack explain how this technology works—and why its adoption could redefine the role of truth in the legal process.
Q: Can you explain, in simple terms, what blockchain technology is and how the new document registration and authentication service works?
David Fisher: Blockchain technology is most frequently associated with cryptocurrency, but the actual innovation is the way it creates and maintains trust in data. Unlike banks and most large software companies, which centralize information under their control, blockchain is decentralized and transparent. Transactions are broadcast and synchronized across thousands of nodes, making tampering virtually impossible.
This powerful, new approach to digital trust has been so effective that it already secures over $4 trillion in cryptocurrency value. Now, we’re applying the same technology to deliver immutable, public proof of authenticity for private documents. Considering that almost all economic relationships and value in the world are defined by documents and contracts, it makes sense to apply digital trust technology to them.
In disputes, this means that anyone will be able to verify whether a document has been altered by comparing its digital fingerprint to the fingerprint of the original on the blockchain—no need to rely on an intermediary, such as an organization or software platform (or probably AI in the near future). The files are kept secure and private. The time and date-stamped cryptographic proofs are public.
As AI makes faking documents easier, blockchain offers something vital: verifiable truth. That’s why the AAA’s role matters. As a neutral authority, it can help establish a global standard for digital trust in contracts, evidence, and dispute resolution.
Diana Didia: The process starts by creating a hash—a unique digital fingerprint based on the exact content of a document. Even a small change to the document creates a completely different hash, making it a reliable way to confirm authenticity.
That hash is then stored on a blockchain, which is decentralized and tamper-proof. Because the data is replicated across many systems, no one can alter it without being detected.
With Integra’s tool, registering a document is as easy as dragging and dropping it – and users can register individual or bulk documents. The system generates the hash, registers it on the blockchain, and provides a visual marker—like a QR code—that links to the blockchain proof and optionally the document author. This service supports both initial registration and future validation—helping maintain trust in a digital world.
Q: What motivated Integra Ledger to partner with the AAA on this global document authentication initiative?
Diana Didia: At the AAA, we’re obviously optimistic about AI—it’s boosting efficiency and accuracy across the legal field. But it also introduces risks, especially around document authenticity. AI makes it easier to manipulate evidence or create convincing fakes, even unintentionally through version confusion.
That’s why partnering with Integra made sense. Their blockchain-based document certification adds a trusted layer of verification, aligning with our strategy to embrace AI while addressing its risks.
David Fisher: Integra began working with the AAA nearly five years ago. From the start, our mission has been to build trusted, interoperable systems for document identity and automation across the legal ecosystem.
The AAA is a uniquely neutral, global standard-setter—making it an ideal partner. Our blockchain-based approach aligns perfectly with their commitment to openness, trust, and efficiency.
This isn’t just a strong partnership—it’s a rare synergy. Together, we’re advancing a shared vision of a more secure and connected legal system.
Bridget McCormack: The future of dispute resolution hinges on trust—not just in the outcomes, but in the integrity of every step. As technology accelerates, we must reinforce the foundations of fairness. This initiative isn't just responsive to AI risks—it's a proactive commitment to upholding what matters most: public confidence in justice.
Q: From your perspective, why is trust in documents such a critical issue in today’s digital and AI-driven environment
David Fisher: Historically, agreements have been rooted in social trust—two parties who know each other, formalizing their understanding in writing. For millennia, documents simply memorialized that shared intent. That model still works, but as we’ve moved from paper to digital formats like PDFs and e-signatures, and now into automation and AI, the nature of trust is changing.
We're increasingly asking software—and AI—to interpret and act on contracts without human oversight. This shift creates distance from the original social context.
That’s where blockchain comes in. It offers a reliable layer of publicly anchored digital trust, establishing the authenticity of agreements in an environment where machines, not just people, engage with contracts.
Bridget McCormack: In any system of justice, evidence is only as strong as its authenticity. When trust in documents erodes, so does trust in the process. We're not resisting innovation—we’re making sure it serves fairness. Authenticity must be built into the architecture of dispute resolution.
Q: How do you envision this tool being used by parties in arbitration or mediation proceedings?
Diana Didia: It's a question we're actively exploring. By the time authenticity becomes an issue, a dispute is often already underway—so proactive document registration isn’t yet second nature. As AI becomes a ubiquitous component of software, however, we believe that the ability to prove the authenticity and provenance of original documents will become more urgent.
With this partnership, users can register documents proactively throughout a contract’s lifecycle to preserve record integrity for future disputes. As the proof is permanent and independent of any software, contracts can be shared, transferred, or saved without affecting the blockchain-based record.
Our goal is to normalize and facilitate the use of this technology before trust in current systems starts to diminish. Working with Integra, we’ve made the technology easily accessible to all, and we encourage everyone to try it. Think of it as a digital firewall against the unknowns of AI-written and altered documents.
Widespread adoption is key, which is why ease of use is so important. This initiative aims to raise awareness and provide tools that verify content at the source. In mediation or arbitration, it might start with certifying the award and eventually include validating submitted evidence. We’re not mandating this—but we are encouraging it, because trust in authenticity is more crucial than ever.
David Fisher: The transparent, public proof of document authenticity that blockchain delivers is the perfect complement to the opaque “black box” of AI. This strategic alliance with the AAA can help to deliver new tools to enhance trust, transparency, and efficiency in dispute resolution around the world. By securely registering time- and date-stamped proof of contracts, notices, and communications, it helps prevent disputes before they start. Many conflicts stem from uncertainty—whether notice was given, or a deadline met. Blockchain offers tamper-proof proof of such events, resolving questions of fact quickly and reliably.
Ultimately, blockchain won’t just resolve disputes—it will help prevent them, making arbitration and mediation more effective in the digital era.
Bridget McCormack: Fair outcomes start with trusted inputs. This technology gives parties the power to validate documents upfront—preventing the kinds of authenticity disputes that derail justice. This isn't an added burden—it’s added confidence, and that benefits everyone.
Q: How does this initiative reflect the broader mission and long-term vision for blockchain integration in the legal industry?
David Fisher: The AAA’s neutrality and global reach make it the ideal partner to help establish open standards for document identity and authentication.
Like its widely used dispute resolution clauses, the AAA can help promote a framework that no single party owns—just trusted tools anyone can adopt.
This partnership isn’t about control—it’s about enabling digital trust at scale. Our technology approach addresses heightened concerns about data privacy and security in the context of AI companies racing to gather the world’s data. Blockchain-based digital trust is delivered while documents stay private and under the control of users.
Q: What steps were taken to ensure the service is both secure and user-friendly, especially for those who may not be very tech-savvy?
Diana Didia: The AAA’s IT team—with expertise in software, cybersecurity, and blockchain—vetted Integra’s technology and approach through a series of in-depth meetings.
The blockchain implementation itself is straightforward. The key is that we’re using public blockchains—maintained by a global community—not a private database. That provides long-term reliability and removes concerns about vendor lock-in or future access.
As David mentioned, documents stay private and under the control of users. Integra simply provides the tools to interact with the blockchain efficiently. This gives us—and our users—confidence that the verification will hold up, even years later.
Q: What impact do you hope this partnership with the AAA will have on the global contract and dispute resolution ecosystem?
David Fisher: Now that this document trust technology is widely available via our collaboration with the AAA, and as users become familiar with its benefits, ease of use, and privacy, we expect growing adoption—especially as AI-generated content becomes harder to verify. Blockchain reduces disputes by making facts—like whether notice was given, or a deadline met—provable and tamper-proof, leaving less room for argument.
In a world flooded with synthetic data, blockchain technology will play a prominent role in anchoring trust in the documents that define our commercial and personal lives—leading to fewer disputes, faster resolutions, and a more efficient, trustworthy system.
Bridget McCormack: We’re building a more trustworthy global system—before, during, and after disputes arise. When parties can verify what was shared, when, and by whom, uncertainty shrinks. This isn't just about resolving disputes more efficiently—it’s about elevating fairness worldwide.